Lead author Dr Benjamin Littenberg said: "Although the mechanism by which peppers could delay mortality is far from certain, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are primary receptors for pungent agents such as capsaicin (the principal component in chilli peppers), may in part be responsible for the observed relationship."

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A compound in red hot chilli peppers could prevent obesity and reduce the risk of heart disease

They include the fact that capsaicin is believed to play a role in cellular and molecular mechanisms that prevent obesity and modulate blood flow in the heart.

And the compound also possesses antimicrobial properties that "may indirectly affect the host by altering the gut microbiota".

Medical student Mustafa Chopan, who also worked on the study, said: "Because our study adds to previous findings, chilli pepper - or even spicy food - consumption may become a dietary recommendation and/or fuel further research in the form of clinical trials."

The study was published recently in the journal PLoS ONE.

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